Enbrel helps rid the itch

[Fred]

We've all been through that itch cycle where you just can't seem to get off, some treatments help and some can even make you itch more.
This study suggests that Enbrel (etanercept) can significantly improve the Itch (Pruritus) and Quality of Life (QoL).

Quote:

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Background:
Pruritus is a clinically important symptom of psoriasis that has a major impact on quality of life (QoL).

Objective:
The objective of this study was to examine pruritus and QoL in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with etanercept (ETN) in the PRISTINE clinical trial.

Methods:
Patients were randomized (1 : 1, double-blind) to ETN 50 mg QW or 50 mg BIW for 12 weeks, followed by 50 mg QW for 12 weeks. Pruritus was reported as 0 (no itching) to 5 (severe itching). Associations were examined between pruritus and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Screening (HADS), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue), Euro-Qol 5D (EQ-5D) and Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Sleep Index II.

Results:
At baseline, patients (n = 270) had a mean pruritus level of 3.6. Itching (level ≥1) was reported by 96% of patients, 62% of whom had severe itching (level ≥4) and 26% had the highest level of itching. DLQI, HADS-Anxiety, HADS-Depression, FACIT-Fatigue, EQ-5D visual analog scale, and MOS Sleep Index II were significantly associated with itch. At week 12, mean pruritus improvement in the ETN BIW/QW group was greater than in the QW/QW group (2.4 vs. 1.6, P < 0.001), but not at week 24 (2.2 vs. 2.0, P = 0.180). Patients with the most severe itching at baseline (score of 5) had a mean score of 1.7 at week 24. Overall, patients with clinically meaningful pruritus improvement at week 24 reported greater improvement in QoL measures than other patients.

Conclusion:
Most patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in this study (96%) reported pruritus. Pruritus improved significantly with ETN therapy and was strongly associated with improvements in QoL. These data support the clinical relevance of pruritus as an important symptom of patients with moderate/severe psoriasis.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

*Funded By:
Wyeth
Patricia McChesney
John Bilbruck of Engage Scientific Solutions
Pfizer

More on Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI)

[jiml]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

[Fred]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

Don't quote me on it but I think.

QW = Once a week from Latin

BIM = Twice a week from probably more Latin

If anyone else has a better explanation please add.

[Caroline]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

Don't quote me on it but I think.

QW = Once a week from Latin

BIM = Twice a week from probably more Latin

If anyone else has a better explanation please add.

Is BIW not simply Bi Weekly?

[Fred]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

Don't quote me on it but I think.

QW = Once a week from Latin

BIM = Twice a week from probably more Latin

If anyone else has a better explanation please add.

Is BIW not simply Bi Weekly?

That was my thinking.

Though it looks like I put biM, must have had to mush Merlot.

[Caroline]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

Don't quote me on it but I think.

QW = Once a week from Latin

BIM = Twice a week from probably more Latin

If anyone else has a better explanation please add.

Is BIW not simply Bi Weekly?

That was my thinking.

Though it looks like I put biM, must have had to mush Merlot.

Je suis en buver une "Gris" maintenant.

[Fred]

I'm probably missing something in the text..... But what is QW and BIW
I think anything that reduces itching in psoriasis is great and I guess the gist is that enbrell does this . I just get lost on some of the initials

Don't quote me on it but I think.

QW = Once a week from Latin

BIM = Twice a week from probably more Latin

If anyone else has a better explanation please add.

Is BIW not simply Bi Weekly?

That was my thinking.

Though it looks like I put biM, must have had to mush Merlot.

Je suis en buver une "Gris" maintenant.

Santé